Road-cleaning machine.



N0. 670,968. Patented Apr. 2, 19m.n H. J. RANGER. ARAD CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept.. 5, 1900.3

3 Sheets-She (No Model.)

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No. 670,968. Patented'Apr. 2, |901. H. J. RANGER.

ROAD CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 5, 1900.)

3ASheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 670,968. Patented Apr. 2, |901.

. lH. J. RANGER.

ROAD CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 5, 1900.) (No ModeL). 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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HENRY JAMES RANGER, OF- CHRISTCHURCH, NET ZEALAND.

ROAD-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o., 670,968, dated April 2, 1901. Application filed September 5, 1900. Seria] No. 29,087. No model.)

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Be it known that I, HENRY JAMES RANGER, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at 183 Hereford street, Christchurch, in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented a new and useful Improved Road Cleaning Machine; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to machines for cleaning roads.

The main feature of the present invention consists in the use of brushes or the like which are carried at the end of rotating arms, said arms being pivoted upon a sleeve or spindle which is caused to revolve by bevel or other gearing.

By the employment of a cam-race the arms in part of their rotation sweep horizontally over the surface of the road and in the remaining part rotation are raised clear thereof.

During the upward movement of the arms the brushes pass into an inclined chute, carrying with them material from the road, which at the topof said chute falls into a hopper and is elevated by buckets upon an endless chain into a road-vehicle.

Two or more sets of rotating arms referred to are employed upon each machine, the brushes or the like being arranged to overlap in their respective paths of rotation and to convey the dirt up the same chute.

The arms are driven through gearing by the forward movement of the traveling wheels of the machine.

The chute referred to is pivoted and its lower end rests upon and follows inequalities in the ground, a brush carried by the machine moving to one side the loose dirt and debris in the path of the chute.

A clutch operated by a hand-lever is used to disconnectthe driving mechanism when it is desired to stop the arms, and traveling wheels upon either side of the machine are fitted with ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, by means of which either of them can revolve in one direction without giving motion to the driving mechanism.

My invention and the operation thereof will be more clearly explained by the aid of the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a brush apparatus,

and lifting arrangement. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side sectional elevation of part of the Fig. 5 is a plan 'thereof'. Figs. 6 and '7 are respectively an enlarged side elevation, partly in section and plan, showing the means of connecting brushes to the arms; and Fig. 8, a part plan of the clutch mechanism.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the figures.

The machine is designed for attachment to the rear of a road-vehicle for receiving mud and is drawn forward toward the left in Fig. l.

The brushes a are clamped in the carriers b at the end of arms c, which are bifurcated, and pivoted at their rear ends upon ears d, projecting from a sleeve d', revolvingnpon the pillar e, which is rigidly fixed between members' of the frame fof the machine by lock-nuts el upon each end of the pillar. The arms c are guided laterally by curved guides c, secured upon and projecting from the sleeve, a guide passing through the bifurcation of each arm. The upper part of the sleeve d upon one side of the machine has a bevel-wheel h fixed upon it in gear with a bevelwvheel h upon a horizontal transverse shaft h2, having another bevel-wheel h3 upon its opposite end gearing with a bevel-wheel h4 upon a sleeve h5, similar to sleeve d' and provided with arms in a similar manner. Be vel-wheel 7i is also geared by a bevel-wheel 7o upon a longitudinal horizontal shaft k', which has a bevel-pinion la? upon its opposite end driven by a bevel-wheel 7c3, carried upon the axle t' of the machine, which is revolved by the traveling wheels To provide for the machine turning corners and for other reasons of convenience, each of said traveling wheels is carried upon a bush 7", fixed upon the axle and having ratchetteeth, a pawljpivoted in a recess inthe hub of the wheel,engagi ng said ratchet-teeth when the-machine is drawn forward, the wheel being free to revolve backward when required.

The brush-carrying arms c are each provided with a roller c2, traveling upon the approximately circular cam-race c3, which is inclined, as shown in Fig; l, whereby the brushes are lifted during one part of their travel. The Cain-race is made in two parts, the upper part being fixed and the forward IOO and lower part pivoted upon both sides at e3 to a fixed support b', carried upon the frame of the machine. A lever-arm c4 upon a rocking shaft c5 projects beneath the lower part of the cam-race, and when the rocking shaft is operated the lower part of the cam-race is raised and with it the brush-carrying arms which may be upon it. The rocking shaft is operated by wire rope c6, attached to an arm c7, passing around guide-pulleys e8 o9 and led to the operating-lever 010, which is fit-ted with a retaining-pawl c, gearing with a quadrant c12 and operated by a hand-lever cl3.

The chute fm is hinged upon the hopper n, its lower end trailing upon the ground, and the two sets of brushes, the paths of travel of which overlap in one part of their rotation, travel up the chute, carrying with them the dirt and debris brushed from the surface of the road.

Endless 'chains nx for carrying elevatorbuckets pass over chain-wheels n' n2, fixed upon a shaft n3, journaled in bearings al, carried in guides i, formed in an extension "a5 of. the frame of the machine. The chains are also carried around chain-wheels n,- fixed upon the spindle ai, journaled in bearings its in the lower partof the frame of the machine.

Extending between and fixed to the chains are elevator-buckets 0, which take material from thehopper n and convey it to the top of the machine, where it is discharged into the vehicle.

The tension of the chains is adjusted by tension-screws r, extending from the bearings "n4, passing through the frame of the machine and provided with nuts S.

The machine is attached io the rear of the vehicle by a coupling-bar p, which has a hole p to receive a pin, which also passes through an eye upon a coupling-bar extending from the vehicle.

The lower edge of the chute fm is raised from the ground simultaneously with. the lower part of the cam-race c3 by a lever-arm y, which is fixed to the rocking shaft c5 and projects beneath the chute.

To remove loose stones and debris from the path of the lowei` edge of the chute as it trails along the road, a wedge-shaped brush u is pivoted at its forward end upon a link u', which in turn is pivoted upon a downwardly-extending arm u2 from the frame of the machine. The brush is raised from the ground when required by a lever-arm fU, fixed to the rocking shaft k7 and having a swing-bar fz/ pivoted upon its end. (See Fig. Connectingrods v2 depend from either end of the swingbar fu', the lower ends being connected to arms v3, which project one upon either side of the brush u.

The sprocket-chains carrying the elevatorbuckets are driven by the sprocket-chain w, passing around the sprocket-wheel w/ upon the axle of the machine and another sprocket- Wheel 1,02, fixed upon the spindle n3.

Bevel-Wheel 705 is fitted with a clutch 7a4, one

part of which slides upon th-e axle i of the machine, which has a feather i', (see Fig. 8,) said clutch being operated by a fork 7t5, working in the circumferential recess 796, the fork being fixed upon a rocking shaft 767, operated by a lever 768. Lever 758 has a retaining-pawl 769, engaging in a notched quadrant 701,0 and operated by a hand-lever 7011.

Sprocket-Wheel w is fixed to or may be integral with the bevel-wheel 7a3, (see Fig. 8,) so

that when clutch 7a4 is moved out of gear the Y brushes and the elevator-buckets simultaneously cease to operate.

A trailing wheel y' supports the rear end of the machine. j

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and '7, the brush a is formed with a recess a at its upper end, which receives a carrier-bracket b, one end of which is hooked and takes into a hole in the end of ,the brush-arm c, and the other terminates in a lug a2,wherein is formed a slot as, receiving a bolta, which also passes through a hole in the arm c and is provided with a wing-nut a5, by means of which the brush is clamped in position.

In Figs. 4L and 5 parts previously referred to are shown to an enlarged scale. Therein it will be seen that the upper part of the camrace c3 is supported by a stay-rod fr, projecting from the frame of the machine.

The brushes maybe of bristle, fiber, or wire, according to the material to be treated.

Vhen a large number of loose stones are to be dealt with, the'bristle may be substituted by tines in the manner of a rake.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a road-cleaning machine the combination of two sets of rotating arms carrying cleaning-brushes, the arms in each set being pivoted upon a separate sleeve, means for connecting the sleeves whereby motion of one is conveyed to the other, said sleeves being caused to revolve by forward movementof the traveling wheels of the machine, an inclined cam-race beneath each set of arms, an inclined chute up which material is conveyed by the brushes, a hopper receiving material from said chute, and an elevator removing material from said hopper, substantially as and for the purposes herein described. I

2. In a road-cleaning machine the combination of rotating arms carrying cleaningbrushes and pivoted at their ends upon a sleeve, means for revolving said sleeve upon a fixed support by forward movement of the traveling'wheels of the machine, an inclined cam-race beneath the arms, an inclined chute up which material is conveyed by said brushes, and a hopper receiving the material from the chute substantially as herein described. y

3, In a road-cleaning machine the combination of two sets of rotating arms carrying cleaning-bristles, the arms in eachset being pivoted upon a separate sleeve journaled upon a fixed vertical pillar, a bevel-wheel upon one sleeve gearing with a similar wheel foo IIO

which it maybe caused to revolve therewith,

means for operating` said clutch by a handlever, a bevel-pinion in gear with the bevel driving-wheel upon a spindle, the opposite end of which has a bevel-wheel in gear with the bevel-Wheel upon one of said sleeves, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

4:. In a road-cleaning machine the combination of rotating arms carrying cleaningbrnshes and pivoted at their ends upon a sleeve, means for revolving said sleeve upon a fixed support by forward movementJ of the traveling wheels of the machine, an inclined cam-race beneath the arms, an inclined chute up which material is conveyed by said brushes, and a hopper receiving the materia-l from the chute, an elevator consisting of buckets carried upon endless sprocket-chains for removing the material from said hopper, and means for actuating said elevator from the travelingwheel axle, substantially as'herein described.

5. In a road-cleaning machine the combination of rotating arms carrying cleaningbrushes and pivoted at their ends upon a sleeve, said sleeve being supported upon a pillar fixed to the frame of the machine, a bevel-wheel upon said sleeve gearing with another bevel-wheel upon a spindle which has a bevel-pinion upon its opposite end driven by a bevel-wheel upon the axle of the traveling wheels of the machine, substantially as described herein.

b'. The combination in road-cleaning machinery of two corresponding sets of rotating arms carrying cleaning-brushes, the members of each set of arms being pivoted upon a sleeve revoluble upon a fixed support, a bevel-wheel upon one sleeve gearing with a bevel-wheel upon a spindle which has anotherbevel-wheel at its opposite end gearing with a bevel-wheel upon the sleeve which carries the other set of arms, with means for rotating one set of arms by forward motion of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a road-cleaning machine the combination of rotating arms carrying cleaningbrushes and pivoted at their ends upon a sleeve, means for revolving said sleeve upon a fixed support by forward movement of the traveling wheels of the machine, an inclined chute up which material is conveyed by said brushes, a hopper receiving material from the chute, and an inclined circular cam-race beneath said arms, said cam-race being in two part-s the one fixed and the other pivoted, with means for operating said pi voted portion of the race whereby it is raised with the arms resting upon it, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

8. In aroad-cleaning machine rotating arms carrying brushes and pivoted at their ends, a

cam-race beneath said arms whereby they are caused to rise in one portion of their path of rotation, said cam-race being in two parts, the one fixed and the other pivoted, a hinged inclined chute up which material is conveyed by the brushes, a' rocking shaft having a lever-arm projecting beneath said chute and a lever-arm projecting beneath the pivoted portion of the cam-race, with means for rocking said rocking shaft and thereby simultaneously lifting the pivoted part of the cam-race and raising the lower edge of the chute, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

9. In a road-cleaning machine a main axle of the machine revolved by forward motion of traveling wheels thereon, a bevel drivingwheel free upon said axle giving motion through bevel-gearing, with rotating arms carrying cleaning-brushes, a sprocket chainwheel by which motion is conveyed to an elevator, said chain-wheel being connected to said bevel driving-wheel and also free upon said axle, a sliding clutch upon said axle by which the bevel driving'- wheel and chainwheel may be caused to revolve therewith, a fork'working in a recess in said clutch, a rocking shaft to which said fork is attached, and a lever for operating said rocking shaft, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

10. In a machine for cleaning roads, the means of attaching a cleaning-brush to an arm, consisting` in forming a recess in the brush which receives a carrier-bracket, one end of which is hooked and takes into a hole in the end of the arm, and the other terminates in a lug wherein is formed a slot receiving a bolt which also passes through a hole in the arm and is provided with a wingnut, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY JAMES RANGER.

Witnesses:

ERNEST J. ANsfrIss, 'HEUNETT RAYWARD.

IOO

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